SHORT-HAIRED CATS. 



275 



generous guaranteeing of classes. The hon. I do not think such cats are to be found 



secretary and treasurer is Sir Claud Alexander, now in our midst, and so I presume this 



Faygate Wood, Sussex. There is a Scottish species of long-haired cat has died out. 



branch of this club, of which the secretary is Anyhow, the term " Russian," when now 



Miss Leith, Ross Priory, Alexandria, N.B. 



It was also in 1901 that the Short-haired 

 Cat Society was founded by Mr. Gambier 

 Bolton, whose name is so well known in the 

 animal world. At most of the principal shows 

 this society is represented, and some hand- 

 some challenge cups and prizes are placed for 

 competition. The hon. secretary is Mrs. 

 Middleton, 67, Cheyne Court, Chelsea, and the 

 annual subscription is 55., and 2s. 6d. to work- 

 ing classes. 



In considering the short-haired breeds, I 

 will divide them into three sections viz. 

 selfs or whole colours, broken colours, and 

 any other distinct variety. The Siamese 

 and Manx cats I have dealt with in previous 

 chapters, and foreign cats will have a corner 

 to themselves later on ; so I propose to deal 

 first with those interesting short-haired self- 

 coloured cats formerly called Russian or Arch- 

 angel, and which in America are termed 

 Maltese. 



There has been a good deal of discussion 

 lately as to the points desirable in these cats, 

 which of recent years have clearly be- 

 come a species of British cats, and there- 

 fore are rightly classed as such at our 

 shows, instead of as Russians. Yet this 

 latter name sticks to the variety, and no 

 doubt there are still some real foreign 

 short-haired blues to be found, differ- 

 ing, however, in type from those we 

 have become accustomed to breed and 

 exhibit in England. Harrison Weir and 

 John Jennings, in their book on cats 

 in the early days of the fancy, deal 

 with cats called Russians amongst the 

 long-haired breeds, and these are de- 

 scribed by them as larger in body and 

 shorter in leg than Persians, with a 

 coat of woolly texture interspersed with 

 wiry, coarse hairs. In colour we are 

 told they were generally dark tabby, 

 the markings being rather indistinct. 



used, is meant to designate the self-coloured, 

 smooth-haired cat with which we are all 

 familiar. Certainly, the best blues I have 

 always remarked are those that have been 

 bred in England, or that, at least, can boast 

 an English sire or dam ; and, after writing 

 right and Jeft to breeders of British cats, I 

 have had a difficulty in obtaining any really 

 good photographs. I cannot, however, com- 

 plain of the pictures of blue short-hairs 

 which illustrate these pages, and which 

 have been really showered upon me. I have 

 failed, however, to be able to illustrate 

 the difference between the foreigners and 

 Britishers. 



That there are two distinct types of these 

 blue cats is apparent to anyone who observes 

 the specimens exhibited at our shows. The 

 foreign or imported variety have wedge- 

 shaped faces, and are longer and larger in the 

 head, with prominent ears ; otherwise, in 

 colour and coat, they are similar to those bred 

 in England, and which partake of the same 

 formation as an ordinary British cat. In 



" BALLOCHMYLE BLUE QUEEN. 

 BELONGING TO LADY ALEXANDER. 



